Viral encephalitis is an inflammation of brain cells that involves flu-like symptoms, such as fever, sore throat and cough, delusion, seizures and potential death. Herpes, measles and mosquito-transmitted arboviruses may directly infect your brain or invade another part of your body before infecting your brain. There are no specific medications or nutrients to treat encephalitis, but certain foods and nutrients may improve health. Consult your doctor about dietary treatments for viral encephalitis.
Foods and Beverages to Avoid
Improving your health begins by avoiding certain foods and beverages that may weaken your immune system or stimulate the proliferation of infections in your body. These foods include processed foods, such as refined white breads and pastas and products that contain sugar. Processed foods contain fewer nutrients, particularly vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, nutrients your body need to stimulate your immune system and protect against infections. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks provide empty calories that can increase your risk of weight gain.
Foods to Eat
The healthiest diet you can eat when you have encephalitis includes nutrient-dense foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds and olive oil. Fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, cherries, oranges, tomatoes, kale, spinach and squash, contain high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Instead of eating red meats and poultry, eat cold-water fatty fish, soy foods and beans for your protein source. Cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring and trout, contain omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that can reduce inflammation, stimulate your immune system and improve your cardiovascular health. Virgin olive oil contains numerous phenolic compounds, such as oleocanthal, that have anti-inflammatory properties similar to ibuprofen, according to research by scientists at Deakin University in Victoria, Australia, and published in "Current Pharmaceutical Design" in 2011.
Beverages to Drink
The best beverages to drink when you have encephalitis include filtered water and green tea. Between six and eight glasses of filtered water each day can keep you hydrated. Green tea has anti-inflammatory properties that may be helpful when you have encephalitis. Furthermore, green tea contains high concentrations of antioxidants that may boost your immune system and protect you from viral hepatitis, cancer and other serious illnesses.
Dietary Supplements
Increasing your nutrient intake with dietary supplements may also boost your immune system, reduce inflammation and improve your health. These supplements include a multivitamin mineral that is rich in antioxidants, such as vitamins A, C, E and selenium, B-complex vitamins, calcium, magnesium and trace minerals such as zinc. Taking fish oil supplements can increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake to reduce inflammation and improve immunity. Co-enzyme Q10 can stimulate your immune system and acetyl-carbitine has anti-viral activity. Certain herbs, such as garlic, Uncaria tomentosa, Sambucus nigra and Astragalus membranaceus may enhance immune response and anti-viral activity. However, there are no studies to confirm the effectiveness or safety of these herbs to treat encephalitis.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Viral Encephalitis; 2011
- Harvard School of Public Health; Health Gains from Whole Grains; 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Omega-3 Fatty Acids; June 25, 2009
- "Current Pharmaceutical Design"; Molecular Mechanisms of Inflammation. Anti-Inflammatory Benefits of Virgin Olive Oil and the Phenolic Compound Oleocanthal; Lisa Lucas, et al.; 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Green Tea; September 20 2010
